Father's plea over Janine Downes' death

The father of murdered prostitute Janine Downes today revealed her final words to him in a letter that she sent him just days before she was killed 20 years ago.

John Downes said he had rediscovered the letter from his 22-year-old daughter only as he was preparing to move house last week.

The body of Miss Downes, a mother-of-three, was found in a lay-by on the A464 Shifnal to Wolverhampton road on February 2, 1991.

Police today re-visited the lay-by where she was found as part of the 20th anniversary cold case review.

Mr Downes, from Low Hill, Wolverhampton, revealed how his daughter had promised him she had stopped working as a prostitute and apologised for not getting in touch but she feared he was angry with her.

The 72-year-old father-of-four said his daughter sold her body to feed her three young children.

He said she would have been 44 years old if she had still been alive and would now be a grandmother.

Miss Downes, whose own mother died when she was just nine years old, left three children, Tyrone, 22, Gavin, 21 and Sioned, 19, who was just months old at the time of her murder.

She also left sister Rita and brothers Martin and Tony.

"Janine did what she did to make ends meet — to feed and clothe her children," her father added.

"She took to prostitution for her children — she just couldn't manage. I told her to stop and said we'd help her. She wouldn't harm anyone. Nobody knew the girl inside. I've only just found the letter when I was packing — it was her last letter to me sent the week before she died. I'll treasure this letter because I won't get another from her."

Urging somebody to break their silence 20 years on from her death, Mr Downes added: "Somebody must know who killed her — they should come forward after 20 years.

"DNA would be the breakthrough now but they didn't have anything back then. It's upsetting for the family but you've got to carry on. But you keep thinking about it.

"Two of her children remember their mother and it's particularly distressing for them every year.

Joyce Edge, a family friend, said: "Janine was a lovely girl who would give you her last penny. She adored her children.

"You can't just take a life and nobody take any notice. If it was my son or daughter who I thought could have done it I would tell someone.

"Janine could rest in peace then — at the moment we know there's somebody walking around that may do it again."

Anybody with information should call Telford police on 0300 333300 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.